Sorrel May 15th 1776
[Extract]
...Mr [John] Bonfield a Gentleman of Character arrived here Yesterday, he left Sully on Thursday last Decham: on Saturday Morning ー where General [John] Thomas was with only nine hundred Men Colonel [William] Maxwell was at Jacques Cartier, but the Number of Men with him Mr Bonfield could not tell ー Mr Bonfield saw a Number of the regular Officers and Inhabitants of Quebec before he left Sully, who acquainted him that on Monday the 6th Instant arrived at Quebeck one Sloop of War of fourteen Guns, one twenty and one fifty Gun Ship from England, with two Companies of the 27th Regiment and one Company of Marines, which were immediately landed, who with the Garrison that came out the same Afternoon made a Body of one thousand Men commanded by General Carleton, from whom our people made a most precipitate Retreat without ever firing a Gun, on the 8th arrived a Frigate of thirty Guns and a Large India Man, with five hundred Men from Halifax part of General Howe's Army the whole of which were on their passage for Quebec & six thousand Hessians it is said are on their Way from England ー If the latter is true we shall doubtless have our Hands full, Colo: [Ethan] Allen is come out in the Ships from England in Irons (it is given out) to receive his Trial for Rebellion & to be executed here.
1. Washington Papers, LC.